Monday, May 23, 2011

Picnic Basket Tart

This month's theme for the 5 Star Foodie Makeover Cooking Group is "Gourmet Picnic Food." Perfect this time of year with Memorial Day on the horizon and many taking to the parks for picnics.

In conceptualizing my dish I thought it would be cool to incorporate some of the foods you might find in a classic picnic basket and make it into a tart. One stop carrying. Fits snug in most picnic basket as well.

You are gonna want to definitely check out our round-up on Friday, I am sure you'll see some great ideas you may want to incorporate for your Memorial Day menu.

Beans
Baked beans is a classic picnic staple. Well, I am Cuban, no baked beans here. What I did make is a smoky red bean puree, cooked with bird's eye chilies, leeks, champagne vinegar, cumin, and a splash of liquid smoke.

Aged Wisconsin Cheddar

Pork
For me there is little better in the world than oven roasted pork. Now, when you add Piment d' Espelette and Cuban mojo...now it just goes to another stratosphere.

Wow, you definitely brought the typical picnic food to a whole new level! Love your concept of combining traditional foods with new flavors into a tart. And the slaw with garlic aioli is out of this world. Nice use of white truffle oil ;)

Every layer of your picnic basket tart packs a surprising flavor combination! With all the necessary components of a savory repast wrapped up in a neat transportable pastry, just as tarts were intended. Just add ale - and you've got that covered :)

Lazaro, now this here is a masterpiece, I love it, purely for the absolute craziness of it. I thought to myself, I've NEVER taken baked beans on a picnic, am I odd with this one? I best do some market research, I shall ask my work buddies? Turns out it isn't an Aussie thing to do, we take the beans camping, but not picnicking. So, you've inspired me. What would you suggest serving with this?

So great minds really do think ... in tarts. I love that you have put every good picnic thing on earth on this and also added your own individuality - and I certainly forgive you for the truffle oil swirl. I usually can't help myself either, lol!

Now that's an innovative and practical tart if I ever saw one! Just cut it into (manly) slices and you've got your picnic food right there and then. Love the layering... I counted, 5 layers for a 5-star makeover :-).

Wow this tart looks like the most delicious picnic food anyone would ever have. Every single layer is a favorite! I love your idea of adding yukon fries as topping, it's gorgeous and it adds a crunch to accent the puree... yum! Great job and thanks for hosting the makeover!

Well, Mr Man... this is one heck of a tart. It's like all the best things in a burrito dressed for dinner. Gorgeous. The beans and pork...well great but the slaw... fabuloso... great balance of flavor of bright and dark and then you slay me with those potatoes... whoa.

All recipes are tested by myself in my kitchen. Recipes are guides, not to be taken as law. With that said, these recipes will, within the constraints of equipment used, be replicable to the practicing home cook.

Do not hesitate to ask any question that may arise with any of my recipes. I am always happy to talk food. Contact me at lazarocooks@gmail.com.